THE MAN WHO ATE HIS BOOTS: SIr John Franklin and the Tragic History of the Northwest Passage.

UK,thick 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn. [Complete number line 2 4 6 8 10 9 7 5 3 1.] FINE+/FINE.No owner inscrptn but price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,matt,regional colour map and colour imaginery scenic painting illustration to front panel of dw/dj with brown+black lettering,rear panel with contemporary sepia thumbnail photographs of various ships' crew members' portraits; with negligible shelf-wear or creasing to edges and corners - no nicks or tears present.Top edges lightly toned and with fore-edges generally bright and clean with a couple of spots to the fore-edges; contents though,are bright,tight,clean,solid and sound - virtually pristine - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corner tips,would appear unread - apart from my own collation.Publisher's bright,crisp,clean,sharp-cornered,original plain black cloth boards with bright,crisp, blocked gilt letters to spine/backstrip,and clean plain burgundy endpapers.UK,thick 8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn,x-xvipp+4-441pp [paginated] includes contents list/table,a chronological list of Arctic Explorations: 1818-1880, author's Introduction,contemporary b/w portrait illustration (John Barrow) frntis,Pts I-V comprising 20 chapters,an Epilogue,book illustrated with contemporary b/w biographical portrait reproductions and b/w maps; sources,a bibliography,acknowledgements and an index; plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,a dedication, double-page b/w Western Arctic map,a title separator page,individual Pts separator pages each accompanied with contemporary individual b/w portrait illustration,blank reverse of last paginated page and 4 further blanks at the rear of the book.
The enthralling,often harrowing story of the adventurers who searched in vain for the Northwest Passage,the holy grail of 19thC British exploration.
Dozens of missions set out for the Arctic during the first half of the nineteenth century; all ended in failure and many in disaster,as men found themselves starving to death in the freezing wilderness,sometimes with nothing left to eat but their companions' remains.Anthony Brandt traces the complete history of this noble and foolhardy obsession,which originated during the sixteenth century, bringing vividly to life this record of courage and incompetence,privation and endurance,heroics and tragedy. Along the way he introduces us to an expansive cast of fascinating characters: seamen and landlubbers, scientists and politicians,sceptics and tireless believers.
'The Man Who Ate His Boots' is a rich and engaging work of narrative history - a multifaceted portrait of noble adventure and of imperialistic folly.
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